Passports were issued to Ukrainians abroad: a large-scale scheme for evaders exposed in Odesa region
Kyiv • UNN
SBU CI dismantled a scheme of mobilization evasion in Odesa region. SBU detained officials of the State Migration Service and the Center for Administrative Services who issued passports without physical presence for $500-2500.
The Security Service of Ukraine's counterintelligence, together with the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Migration Service, has eliminated a large-scale scheme to evade mobilization in Odesa region. This was reported by UNN with reference to the SBU.
Details
Law enforcement officers detained the head of the local district department of the State Migration Service and two of his subordinates, as well as an official of the regional division of the Center for the Provision of Administrative Services.
It is noted that the defendants set up a "scheme" to receive money from men of military age who are outside Ukraine and are trying to "remotely" issue passports.
This "scheme" allowed men liable for military service not to return to Ukraine, not to register and not to update their data in the TCC and JV.
During 57 searches of the defendants' places of work and residence, the evidence was seized:
- more than USD 300 thousand and more than EUR 60 thousand, allegedly obtained by criminal means;
- almost 200 seals and stamps used in the “scheme”.
Based on the collected evidence, the SBU investigators served suspicion notices to three SMS officials (they have been dismissed), one ASC employee, an intermediary and another participant in the fraud under Art. 28, Part 1 Art. 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (obstruction of the lawful activity of the Armed Forces and other military formations, committed by prior conspiracy)
The investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime. The offenders face up to 8 years in prison.
Addendum
The investigators found out that the organizers of the fraud made passports for the fugitives with a gross violation of the procedure: without the physical presence of the clients in the relevant state institutions.
To process the documents, SMS officials took their fingerprints and made a photo from a remotely sent photo. The officials handed over the passports to the customers through a network of intermediaries.
The cost of such services ranged from 500 to 2.5 thousand US dollars, depending on the urgency. According to the investigation, in total, the criminals received orders for the remote processing of more than 150 documents.
All documents issued in violation of the law will be canceled in accordance with the procedure
Recall
In Kyiv region, a woman was notified of suspicion for a fake marriage scheme for men to facilitate illegal border crossing by evaders for $5,000.